No Denominations in the Underground Church
The Chinese underground church is a powerful example of a church that has been built by the Holy Spirit, without denominational influence, and is characterized by a deep faith and a willingness to suffer for Christ.
This sermon highlights the unique spiritual strength and growth of the underground church in China, contrasting it with Western influences and denominational entanglements. It emphasizes the Chinese believers' deep reliance on the Holy Spirit for teaching and guidance, their sacrificial commitment to following Christ despite persecution, and their unwavering focus on Jesus alone, living in a constant state of faith and longing for His presence.
Full Transcript
Well, one of the tragic things that has happened to the Chinese church, and we need to hear this because we go there with good intentions, but one of the things that's harmed them is the Western influence, whereby Christians in the West come to help by giving Bibles and money, but they bring their denominational influences with them. This has hurt the Chinese. They do not want our denominations.
They just want the Holy Spirit. They are offended when a Westerner is allowed to come into a rural church, and that person tries to influence them with their denomination. It's been not good for the Chinese, for they do not want those entanglements.
You see, Jesus Christ has built his church in China, and there's no other explanation for it, unlike America, where we pretty much build our own church through our denominational money and manpower, but in China, God has built his church there by Holy Ghost power. It is estimated today in China that there are over 20,000 new believers every day. Some estimates are as high as 27,000, so God has not ceased working in China.
He's working more and more as I speak. It's incredible, but God is still expanding his church there. In the rural underground church in China, no one has any seminary training.
Their dependence is upon the Holy Spirit to teach them, and because there's no denominations, there's no hierarchy, there's no division between clergy and laity. All are workers. All are priesthood members of the priesthood of believers.
Listen, friends, in the underground church in China, the Holy Spirit has little impediment or obstruction. The Chinese believer counts the cost of being a Christian. There's no easy believism there.
It's not uncommon when a person is saved that that person's entire family comes to Christ just because of the new vitality that's seen in that person. The whole family will follow the Lord. This is especially true in the rural Chinese church.
The rural underground church is comprised of believers who have counted the cost of following a crucified savior. They know that suffering and persecution is part and parcel of following the Lamb. We speak of the exchange life here in the West.
The Chinese live such an exchange life that they don't keep any part of it. The Holy Spirit teaches them, and they are channels, not a reservoir. They don't keep it selfishly to themselves.
They let it flow out to others all the time. The Holy Spirit has complete freedom to work through the believer. They have lost everything, their homes, their families.
They've been in prison. They've been beaten. They've been starved.
All they want is Christ's presence. That's what they long for. This is the key to understanding the indigenous house church in China.
All they want is Jesus. They just want Jesus. They live in an atmosphere of Christ and eternity.
They live in a minute-by-minute and moment-by-moment faith that puts us to shame.
Sermon Outline
- The Western Influence on the Chinese Church
- The Underground Church in China
- The Power of the Holy Spirit in the Underground Church
- The Exchange Life of the Chinese Church
- Believers live an exchange life, letting the Holy Spirit flow through them
- They have lost everything, but all they want is Christ's presence
Key Quotes
“They just want the Holy Spirit. They are offended when a Westerner is allowed to come into a rural church, and that person tries to influence them with their denomination.” — E.A. Johnston
“All they want is Jesus. They just want Jesus.” — E.A. Johnston
“They live in a minute-by-minute and moment-by-moment faith that puts us to shame.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- We should be careful not to bring our denominational influences to other cultures and churches.
- We can learn from the Chinese church's emphasis on the Holy Spirit and their willingness to suffer for Christ.
- We should strive to live a minute-by-minute and moment-by-moment faith, like the Chinese believers.